Phonograph



lieb. 1o, 1942.

M. J. QI TORO Paouoenun f Filed oct. 3, 1939 l Gttorneg of the groove.

Patented Feb. 10, 1942 PHONOGRAPH Michael J. Di Toro, East Orange, N. J., assignor to Thomas A. Edison, Incorporated, West range, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application october 3, 193s, 'serial No. 297,643

13 Claims.

This invention relates to phonographs,V and more particularly to phonographs having soundtranslating systems involving amplication between their pick-up and output points. lThe in-` vention is especially concerned with phonographs which are intermittently operated-i. e., phonographs in which the operation is frequently suspended during the use of the machines-as for example, commercial phonographs or dictating machines such as are used for the recordation and reproduction of dictation, conferences, and the like.

Recording and reproducing phonographs having amplifying sound-translating systems typically employ, as a source'of pick-up, a sound transmitter or phonographic reproducer and, as a source of output, aphonographic recorder or sound receiver, these pick-up and output sources beinginterconnected by an oscillation-transmitting channel serially including means for amplifying electrical oscillations. the sound -transmitter and -sound receiver are the microphone and loudspeaker, respectively, and of the phonographic recorder and reproducer are the electro-mechanical translating devices Typical forms ofl selectively adaptable to convert electrical oscilla- I tions into corresponding vibrations of a recordcooperating stylus, or vice versa. the machinel the phonographic recorder or reproducer is placed into operative relationship- In operating to be progressively cut or impressed in and along the surface of the record having modulations corresponding to the electrical oscillations 'fed into the recorder; and a tracking movement of the reproducer, as along a modulated groove on the record, will cause electrical oscillations to be created in correspondence with the modulations While I herein illustrate my invention in connection with a phonograph of the combined recording and reproducing type having pick-up and output sources of the form above representedvas typical, it will be understood that my invention is applicable to phonographs which are restricted in use to either recording or reproducing and that the particular form ot the pick-up and output sources of the sound-translating system is not necessarily important to my invention.

In order that the recordation and reproduction of sound may be eiectedwith good fidelity it is necessary, among other things, that extraneous excitations of the sound translating system be of a low order. Such extraneous excitations may be caused as an incidentof the starting and stopping of the machine. This source of extraneous excitation' is of especial importance in coms mercial phonographs since such phonographs are frequently suspended in operation during their use by means of electrically actuated clutch mechanisms. `These mechanisms generally produce noise, vibration and electrical disturbance of an order which maylbe picked Aup by the sound-translating system-particularly in soundtranslating systems involving. amplification between its points of pick-up and output. For example, duringl the operation of recording this vibration and noise may be picked up by the microphone and the electrical disturbance by the amplier to cause extraneous recordations on the record; and .during a suspension in recording, heavy room noises and vibrations may be picked up by the'microphone to actuate the recorder and thereby cause further extraneous recordations, in the form of indentations, on the record. During reproducing, the vibration and electrical disturbances accompanying the starting and stopping of the machine may be picked up by the reproducer and amplifier, respectively, to cause the emission of disturbing sounds. Also, during a time of suspensions in reproducing, amplier hum and vibration of the machine may cause disturbing sounds to be emitted to'distract the operators attention from their Work. Thus in 'machines wherein the recording and reproducing operations involve frequent transitional conditions of starting and stopping the fidelity vof the reproduced sound and the convenience oi operation of the machine may be greatly impaired. l

It is an object of my invention to suppress or eliminate in phonograph systems, the recordation and/or reproduction of extraneousmatter.

which are frequently suspendedI in operation during their use.

' in a phonograph having mechanical and soundtranslating systems, automatically operated means for controlling one of such systems as an incident oi controlling the other.

Another object of my invention is to prevent suspensions in the operation of a phonograph from causing extraneous excitations of its amplifying sound-translating system.

A feature oi my invention is to cause the sound-translating system of a phonograph to be rendered operative and inoperative as an incident of the starting and stopping of the mechanical operation oi the machine.

Another feature of my invention is to cause the operative and inoperative conditions of the sound-translating system to be eiected as terminal and initial incidents of the starting and stopping oi the mechanical operation of the machine.

Other and allied objects and features of my t invention will more fully appear from the followinf?,r description and the appended claims.

In the description of my invention reference is had to the accompanying drawing which shows,

largely in diagrammatic form, mechanism and circuits of a recording and reproducing phonograph embodying my invention.

The phonograph shown in the accompanying drawing comprises a mandrel l adapted to serve as a support for a cylindrical record 2 and having a shaft journalled in a standard of a frame 5 of the phonograph. Rotation of the mandrel is efiected by an operating mechanism suitably comprising an electrical motor M coupled, as by a belt to a drive pulley l. rihe starting and stopping of rotation of lthe mandrel is preferably controlled by a clutch il interposed between the drive pulley 'l and the mandrel shaft. This -tures are in leftward and rightward positions.

clutch comprises a toothed clutch member il on the pulley 'l and another toothed clutch member Eil which is splined to the mandrel shaft for movement into and out of engagement with the clutch member 9, the splining being eected by' a pin and slot connection of which the pin appears as lil". Movement of the clutch member iii is ei'ected by an actuating mechanism l2 which is coupled to the clutch member by way ci a vertically disposed clutch lever I3. This clutch lever is pivot/ed, as at lli, tothe frame E and is coupled, at its upper end, to the clutch member i0 by means of a pin l5 on the lever which slidably engages an annular groove it in the clutch member. Pivoted to the lower end portion of the clutch lever, by a pin i8, is a link il which serves to connect the clutch lever to the actuating mechanism i2. y

The actuating mechanism i2 is preferably oi a construction such as is disclosed in Langley Patent No.` 1,380,480, issued June '7, 1921, and entitled Controlling device. A mechanism of this construction comprises two electromagnets i8 and it respectively operating plvoted armatures 2d and 2i of which the armature 2t is pivotally connected, by a pin Il', to the link Il. The armatures 20 and 2i respectively carry cams 20' and 2 i which areireiliently held in coacting relationship by means oi a tension spring 22connected between the armatures. When one of the armatures is actuated the other armature is maintained in a. locked condition by means of the coacting cams 2h and 2l; however, when the actuated armature reaches the end of other armature is released from its locked condition and is then moved, by the spring 22,towards the other armature and into a position for subseits travel the.

Connected to the arm 23 is a switch arm 25 which is adapted to alternately make connection with contact members 2E and 2l, which contact members are respectively serially included in the circuits of the electromagnets I9 and lil. When the armatures 2t and 2l are in their leftward positions, as shown, the switch arm 25 makes connection with the contact member 25, thereby causing the circuit of the electromagnet i9 .to be -preparedfor operation. 'When a current is passed through the circuit of this electromagnt the armature 2| is actuated in a rightward direction. At the completion of this actuation of the armature 2l the armature 2B is moved, in response to the spring 22, towards the other. As the armature 20 is so moved it rocks the pivoted arm 23 and in its terminal movement engages the clutch 8. The initial rocking movement of the pivoted arm 23 causes the switch arm to break connection with the contact member 25, thereby breaking the circuit of the electromagnet I9; and the terminal rocking movement of the arm 223 causes the switch arm 25 to make connection with the contact member 21, thereby preparing the circuit of the electromagnet I8 for operation. When a current is passed through the circuit of the electromagnet it the above process is reversed: the armature 20 being Aactuated leftwardlylto first disengage the clutch and to then release the armature 2i, and the armature 2l being then movedltowards the other, in response to the spring 22, to cause iirst a breaking of the circuit of the electromagnet it and thereafter a preparation of the circuit of the eiectromagnet i@ for reoperation.

The alternate energizing of the electromagnets iii and l5) is manually controlled byv means of a single-pole double-throw hand switch 23 havingt a pole member 29 normally making connection with a contact member 30, as by a biasing of the pole member, and movable to break connection with the contact member 20 and to Ithereafter make connection with a contact member 3i. The pole member 29 of the hand switch 28 and the switch arm 25 of the actuating mechanism l2 are connected by respective conductors 32 and 33 rto the leads oi a two-wire cable 3K3 which is adapted to make connection with a suitable source of power as by way'of a plug 35. The contact members 3U and 3| of the hand switch 2t are respectively connected, by the conductors it and 31, to the electromagnets I8 and I9, the connection to the electromagnets being made on the sides opposite to those making connection with the contact members 21 and 26. By this arrangement the electromagnet I9 is energized to cause the engagement of the clutch l as the pole member 2l of the hand switch 28 is moved into start position-the position or the pole memberv when it makes connection with the contact member ill-and the electromagnet I8 ls energized to cause the disengagement of the clutch as the pole member 28 is moved into stop position-the position of the pole member when it makes connection with the contact member 30. However, these energizings of the electromagnets I8- and I9 are only momentary by reason of the automatic breaking of the circuits of the electromagnets as above explained. A

The sound-translating system for the phonograph comprises an electro-mechanical translating device 38 of a type' selectively placeable into inoperative condition and respective operative conditions for recording and reproducing, an electro-acoustical unit 39 vcomprising a microphone 40 and loud-speaker 4|, an electrical amplier 42 which receives its power by way `:if a cable 43 connected with the cable 34, and an oscillation-transmitting channel which includes a multipleswitch 44 selectively operable to connect the translating device 38 and electro-acoustical unit 39 to the amplier in a manner to condition the sound-translating system for recording or reproducing. It,v will be further understood that while it is preferred, in a recording and reproducing phonograph, to have the microphone 40 and loud-speaker 4|, and the electro-mechanical translating means, each in the form of a unitary v structure, as shown, the microphone and loudspeaker may be. mechanically Aseparate and the translating means lmay constitute separate recording and reproducing devices.

During the operation of the machine a relative progressive movement is eiiected between the translating device 38 and the record. In the present instance this movement is eiected by a rotation of the mandrel I and a concomitant feeding of the translating device along the record as by means of a rotatable feed -screw ||v which is engaged by a feed nut 38 carried by the trans-Y lating device 38 and which isrotatably coupled to the mandrel shaft by a train of gears Il. The

lunit 39 to the amplier 42. In order that the state or condition of the sound-translating system may be controlled by a unitary means the lever 48 is connected to a bar 50, which controls pole members 5|, 52 and 53 of the switch, by means of a suitable link`49. The pole member 5| serves as the pole of a single-pole double-throw switch having left and right contact members 5|' and 5|", whereas the pole members 52 and 53 serve as poles for single-pole single-throw switches respectively having contact members 52 starting andv stopping of this relative progressive i movement, to render the phonograph mechanically operative and inoperative, iscontrolled by the clutch 8 which in turn is controlled by the hand switch 28, as heretofore described.

The sound translating device38 is of a form which, Iwhen conditioned for recording, will receive sound representing oscillations by way of a pair of terminals 45 and impart an undulating movement in accordance with such oscillations to a recorder stylus 46; and which, when conditioned for reproducing, will create electrical oscillations in accordance with an undulating movement imparted to a reproducer stylus 41. The conditioning of the translating device is controlled by a lever 48. The control effected by this lever issuch that when the lever is in a. leftward or recording position, the recorder stylus is mainsystem for recordingA and reproducing involves both a conditioning ofthe translating device 38 vand a proper connecting, by the switch 44, of

the translating device 38 and electro-acoustical 75 and 53'.` When the lever 48 is moved leftwardly into recording position the pole members 5| and 52 make connectionI with the contact members 5|' and 52 respectively; when the lever 48 is moved into reproducing position the pole members 5| and 53 make connection with the contact members 5|" and 53 respectively; and when the lever 48-is in neutral position each of the pole members are out of contact with their associated contact members.. l

The amplifier 42 is provided with both high and low impedance inputs and outputs, the high and low impedance inputs being respectively obtained from terminals 54 to 55 to ground terminal 58 and the high and low impedance outputs being respectively obtained from terminals 51 and 58 to ground terminal 59. The microphone is adapted to work into the high impedance'input of the amplifier and the high impedance'output of the amplifier to feedinto the translating device 38 when the -translating system is conditioned for recording, and the translating device 38 is adapted to feed into the low impedance input of the amplier and the low impedance output of the amplier to feed into the loud-speaker 40 when the sound-translating system is conditioned for reproducing. In order that these connections will be made by the movement of the lever 48 into recording and reproducing positions one side of the translating device 38, vmicrophone 48, and loud-speaker 4|, respectively, is connected .to ground, the ground connection of the translating device being made as at 60 and the ground connection of the microphone and loud-speaker being made as at 6|. The other sides of the translating device, microphone and loud-speaker are respectively connected by the respective conductors 62, 63 and B4 to the pole members 5|, 52 and 53 of the multiple switch 44; the input terminals 54 and 55 of the amplifier are respectively connected by the conductors 65 and 65 to the contact members 52 and 5|" of the multiple switch; and the output terminals 5l and 5870i theamplier are respectively connected by the conductor 6l and 68 to the Contact members 5| and 53 of the multiple switch. Thus when the lever 48 is in recording position the microphone 40 is connected to the high impedance input of the ampliiier by way ofthe pole member 52 and contact member 52' of the multiple switch, and the high impedance output of the amplier is connected to the translating device 38 by way ofthe contact member 5|' an'd pole member 5|; and when the lever 48 is in reproducing position the ltranslating device is connected to the low impedance input of the- 8| by way of the contact member 53" and polev member 53.

During the operation of recording. `dictationthe operator frequently suspends the operation of the machine-i. e., renders the machine mechemically inoperative--so as to give him time to determine the course of his thoughts, and he may also momentarily suspend the operation of the machine as an incident of listening-back on previously recorded matter for the purpose of picking up thoughts which may have escaped his mind. `Also during the transcribing of .a record the operator intermittently suspends the operation of the machine to permit the typing of portions of reproduced matter. Such suspensions in the operation of the machine--which are eiected by the clutch actuating mechanism I2 and controlled by the hand switch 28-may `cause extraneous excitations of the sound-translating system, as from' the noise and vibration of the lthe opening and closing of theswitch 69 the clutch 8 and actuating mechanism I2 and from the electrical disturbances created by the circuit breaking of the actuating mechanism; and during suspensions in operation ofthe machine, the sound-translating system may be extraneously excited by room noises and vibrations when the machine is conditioned for recording, and by motor vibration and amplifier hum when the machine is conditioned for reproducing, as heretofore explained. The terminal effect of all such extraneous excitations of the sound-translating system is to cause the fidelity of sound reproductions to be marred by the presence of peculiar and disturbing reproduced sounds, and to cause during suspensions in sound reproducing the emission of noises which distract the operators attention from their work.

In accordance with my invention I suppress the recordation and reproduction of extraneous matter caused incidental to a suspension in operation of the machine, by placing the soundtranslating system automatically into inoperative condition upon the stopping of the mechanical operation of the machine and by restoring the sound-translating system automatically to operative condition by the restarting of the machine. The placing of the sound-translating system into inoperative condition may be effected in various ways, a particularly simple method being in shorting the output oi the amplifier Q2 to render the amplier inoperative, or what is the equivalent, in shorting the oscillation-transmitting channel which serves to operatively interconnect the translating device 39 and the electro-acoustical unit (fill. The means for shozting the out put of the amplifier comprises a switch 69 having a pole member 1IJ connected, as at 1I, to

ground and a contact member 12 connected, by

a cdnductor 13, to the conductor 61. The switch 69 is biased to be normally closed, the biasing being effected by a 'spring 14 operating on the pole member 10. Opening of the switch 69 is effected as an incident ofthe engagement of the clutch 8 by the impingement of a stud 15, carried by the clutch lever I3, against the pole member '10 of the switch, the stud 'l5 being threaded into a lug 16 on the clutch lever I3 and being held in place by a lock nut 11. Thus, as the clutch 8 is engaged and disengaged, tostart and stop the mechanical operation of the machine. the switch 69 is opened and closed to respectively render the .sound-translating system operative and inoperative.`

By an adjustment of the stud 15 relative to the lug 16 the timing of the opening and closing of the switch 69 relative to the engagement and disengagement of the clutch 8 is controlled. In accordance with my invention this tim-ing is arranged so that the switch 69 will be opened by the terminal movement of the clutch lever I3 in support,

, tive movement between said device and said supsound-translating system is rendered operative concurrently with the starting of record rotation,

and is rendered inoperative 4concurrently with the disconnection of the mandrel from 4its rotating means. An important result in placing the sound-translating system into inoperative condition concurrently with the disconnection of the mandrel from its driving means is that it prevents any recordation during the time the man? drel is coasting to a stop.

It has been seen, as heretofore described, that the circuit of the electromagnet I9 is broken prior to the engagement of the clutch d and that the circuit of the electromagnet I8 is broken subsequently to the disengagement of the clutch.

By controlling the timing o! the opening and closing of the switch til so that the operative and inoperative'conditions are effected as terminal and initial incidents of the starting and stopping of record rotation, the sound-translating system is not rendered operative until after the circuit breaking which is incidental to record starting has occurred, and is rendered inoperative before the circuit breaking which is incidental to record stopping has occurred. Thus electrical disturbances caused by the circuit breaking of the electromagnets It and Ill incidental to the starting and stopping of the mechanical operation of the machine is prevented from exciting the soundtranslating system.

Although I have herein shown and described one embodiment of my invention it will be understood that this embodiment is illustrative of my invention land not limitative thereof since the .embodiment herein shown is subject to many changes andv modiiications without departure from the scope of my invention, which I under- 4 take to express according to the following claims.

I claim: l. In a phonograph having a rotatable record support, a. record-cooperating phonographic translating device and means for effecting a relai into and out of operative condition; means for placing said sound-translating system into and out of condition whereby one of said devices is ineffective to feed the other; and means for causing said last-mentioned means to be controlled by said clutch.

2. In a phonograph having a rotatable record a record-cooperating phonographic translating device and means for eilecting a relaport: the combination of a sound-translating system Including said phonographic translating device and a circuit for transmitting sound-representing oscillations to and from said device;- l control means for placing said movement-effecting means into and out of operative condition; a switch insaid oscillation-transmitting circuit. for placing said sound translating system into and out of operative condition: and an operative coupling between said 'control means and nid switch for causing an operation of one by the other.,

3. In a phonograph having a rotatable record support, `an electro-mechanical translating device adapted to cooperate with a supported record and means for -effecting a relative movement between said device and said support: the combination of a sound-translating system including said translating device, electro-acoustical means, and an electrical oscillation-transmitting circuit for interconnecting said translating device and electro-acoustical means; a clutch operable into start and stop positions to place said movementelecting means into operative and inoperative conditions; an electric circuit-controlling switch in said circuit operable to render said soundtranslating system operative and inoperative; and means, operatively connecting said clutch and said switch, for causing said sound-translating system to be rendered operative and inoperative as an incident of operating said clutch into start and stop positions.

4. In a phonograph having a rotatable support for a record, a phonogfaphic translating' device selectively conditionable for recording and reproducing a sound-representingr source of electrical oscillations, a sound receiver andmeans for causcontrol means movable into stop position to render said movement-effecting means inoperative; and shorting means in said circuit and 0peratively connected with said control means for causing the circuit to be shorted by the movement of the control means into stop position.

7. In a phonograph having a rotatable support for a record, a. phonographic translating device adapted to cooperate with a record on said sup- 4port and means for eilecting a-relative progresvmeans operative and inoperative; a switch dill'erentially operable to render said transmitting circuit operative and inoperative; and means for causing a differential operation of said switch by ing a. relative progressive movement between said l translating device and said support: the combination of a transmission means including a transmission circuit and switch means selectively operable to connect said translating device with said electrical oscillation source or to connect said translating device with said sound receiver; control means operable into start and stop positions to render said movement-causing means effective and ineffective; and a switch associated with said transmission circuit and operatively connected with said control means, for causing said transmission means to be respectively placed into operative and inoperative conditions upon the moving of said control means into start and stop positions.

5. Iii a phonograph havin,r a rotatable record support and means for rotatingl said support; the combination of an electro-mechanical translating device selectively conditionable for recording and reproducing; electro-acoustical means including a microphone and a sound receiver; an oscillation-amplifying channel; a state-controlling means for the phonograph comprising conditioning means for said translating device and switch means associated with said channel and operated concurrently with said conditioning means, said switch means being arranged to cause said translating device to be operatively for a record, a phonographic translating device operatively associated with a supported record and means for ecting a relative progressive movement between saidtranslating device and A said support: the combinationjof an oscillation-A transmitting circuit connected with said device;`

the movement of said control means into its start and stop positions, including adjustable means for controlling the time of operation of the switch relative tothe movement of said control means between its said positions.

8. In a phonograph having a rotatable support for a record, a record-cooperating translating de` vicev and drive means for eecting a relative progressive movement between said translating device and saidy support: the combination of means for amplifying the oscillations fed into and/or from said translating device; control vmeans operable to start and stop the said relafor a record, a sound-translating device opera.

tively associated with a record on said support and an operating mechanism for electing a relative progressive movement between said translating device and said support: the combination of an oscillation-transmitting channel for said de-y vice serially including an electrical amplifier provided with input and output-pairs of terminals; control means associated with said operating mechanism and operable to render the same operative and inoperative; and means controlled by said controlmeans for placing a short across and removing the same from one of 'said pairs of terminals as an incident of rendering said mechanism inoperative and operative.

10. In a phonograph having a rotatable support for a record and an operating mechanism: the combination of a sound-translating system comprising a phonographic translating Adevice placeable into operative relationship with the record, an electro-acoustical translating device,

and means for amplifying electrical oscillations interposed between said devices and having operative and inoperative conditions; control means associated with said operating mechanism and operable to start a relative progressive movement between saidtranslating device and the record, and comprising an electrically operated clutch' mechanism adapted to break its own circuit incidental to its operation; and' means, controlled by 's aid control means and operated incidental to the starting of vsaid relative movement and subsequent tothe breaking of the circuitof said' clutch mechanism, for causing said amplifier to be placed into operative condition.

11. In a phonograph having `a rotatable support for a record and an operating mechanism: the combination of a sound-translating system comprising a. phonographictranslating device placeable into operative relationship with the record, an electro-acoustical translating device, and an electrical ampliner interposed between said devices and having operative and inoperative conditions; coupling means associated with said operating mechanism for causing a relative progressive movement between said translating device and the record, said coupling means comprising an electrically operated clutch mechanism operable to stop said relative movement and adapted to break its own circuit incidental to its operation; and means, operatively connected with said clutch mechanism and operated incidental to the stopping of said relative movement and prior to the breaking of the circuit of the clutch mechanism, for causing said ampiier to be placed into inoperative condition.

12. In a phonograph having a rotatable record support, a record-cooperating translating device and a drive mechanism for effecting a relative movement between said device and said support: the combination of an oscillation amplifier associated with said device; a control device associated with said drive mechanism and electrically actuatable into start and stop positions to render the drive mechanism effective and ineffective, said control device being adapted to automatically break` its own circuit just prior to the same inoperative condition at the instant of each breaking of the circuit of said control device.

13. In a phonograph having a rotatable support for a record and an operating mechanisnfu' the combination of an amplifying sound-translating system including a phonographic translating device adapted to cooperate with the record; coupling means associated with said operating mechanism for causing a relative progressive movement between said translating device and the record, said coupling means including a clutch engageable and disengageable to start and stop said relative movement; an actuating mechanism for operating said clutch having powersupplying circuit means and switch means automatically `controlled to break said circuit means coincidentally with the initial engaging move mentwand the terminal disengagingi; movement of said clutch; and means. controlled by said actuating mechanism and operated coincidentally with the terminalengaging movement and the initial disengaging movement of said clutch, for respectively placing said sound-translating system into operative and inoperative conditions.

MICHAEL J. DI TORO. 

